Rusted Craftsman sockets....will they warranty them

[bluechevy94]

My grandmother passed away a month ago.I came up to Ky to help my folks go through some stuff.I was down in my step grandpas barn and found an roller chest that had a bunch of rusted and peeling sockets in it.The chest had water in the drawers and was under a pile of old lumber in the bottom of the barn.All the years and many times I was in there I never even knew the chest was there.I got to going through the drawers and found a bunch of craftsman sockets and wrenches.They are rusted pretty bad and the chrome is flaking on them.Was wodering if sears would warranty them since they were rusted?Also I think the chest maybe an old snap on but not sure.I will get some pics of it and post them up later on.If it turns out to be a snap on a resto maybe in order.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

My grandmother passed away a month ago.I came up to Ky to help my folks go through some stuff.I was down in my step grandpas barn and found an roller chest that had a bunch of rusted and peeling sockets in it.The chest had water in the drawers and was under a pile of old lumber in the bottom of the barn.All the years and many times I was in there I never even knew the chest was there.I got to going through the drawers and found a bunch of craftsman sockets and wrenches.They are rusted pretty bad and the chrome is flaking on them.Was wodering if sears would warranty them since they were rusted?Also I think the chest maybe an old snap on but not sure.I will get some pics of it and post them up later on.If it turns out to be a snap on a resto maybe in order.

They likely will.

However this is clearly a case of neglect/abuse. I personally wouldn't feel right about returning them. I would at the very least try to clean them up first.

 

[jjjrmx5]

In a word, yes, they should and likely will.

My question to you to ponder is for peeling chrome, I'd definately exchange for new if me. Peeling should not happen and makes using it dangerous.

For rust only on an otherwise comsmetically good tool, I 'd suggest a good cleaning and then a dip in Evapo-Rust. Why, you ask? Well, the older the C'man socket is a heftier construction and has more material used to make each socket with.

I've weighed the same sockets from back to the 50's with those from teh 70's and then 80's and the current offerings and the current sockets use signifcantly less mat'l per socket. All-in-all I feel the older sockets are built to last several lifetimes. The newer C'mans are made to keep costs at a certain threshold.

Just my opinion, but I don not like to turn in a usable good/better tool to get something inferior in exchange. Free or not.

 

[rlitman]

I've weighed the same sockets from back to the 50's with those from teh 70's and then 80's and the current offerings and the current sockets use signifcantly less mat'l per socket. All-in-all I feel the older sockets are built to last several lifetimes. The newer C'mans are made to keep costs at a certain threshold.

Thinner walled sockets are always better IMHO. Making a socket heavier and thicker will make it less likely to fail, but makes it less useful to me.
If I wanted a thick wall socket, I'd use an impact.

 

[eric_koski]

My Sears Hardware will NOT warranty any hand tool for rust. It has to be broken. they call that tool abuse.(Their words not mine.) They will warranty peeling chrome. bottom line "if it ain`t broke....BREAK IT!"

 

[dsmnickk90]

My Sears Hardware will NOT warranty any hand tool for rust. It has to be broken. they call that tool abuse.(Their words not mine.) They will warranty peeling chrome. bottom line "if it ain`t broke....BREAK IT!"

The warranty states "If any Craftsman Hand Tool ever fails to give you complete satisfaction" Rust and peeling chrome doesn't satisfy me. They pretty much have to warranty any tool even if nothing is wrong with it.

A Sears Hardware will probably be stricter on their warranty policy because they are franchises and own their in store stock. A actual Sears store probably wouldn't give you a hassle.

 

[thehazmatguy]

They likely will.

However this is clearly a case of neglect/abuse. I personally wouldn't feel right about returning them.

I totally agree.

 

[bluechevy94]

Well I went through all of the sockets (116 of them) and most of them I can just clean up and they will look good.The ones that are rusted really bad are the ones with peeling chrome on them.The wrenches I can just clean them up for the most part.I may just put them all in a box and put em in the toolbox on my truck.

 

[Spareparts]

Yes Mr. Craftsman sales person the Chrome started peeling so I put them in a bucket to return for my unconditional warrenty and it got wet, hence the rust

 

[Hetman]

The warranty states "If any Craftsman Hand Tool ever fails to give you complete satisfaction" Rust and peeling chrome doesn't satisfy me. They pretty much have to warranty any tool even if nothing is wrong with it.

My ***** grow bigger, so I need a bigger size socket to satisfy me... Guys, stick to reality.

 

[jjjrmx5]

My ***** grow bigger, so I need a bigger size socket to satisfy me... Guys, stick to reality.

HUh?
Care to explain your"REALITY" ?

I know what the Sears warranty reality is?
And it does not involve the p-word .

Sounds like the OP needs some Evapo-rust and a bucket. Done

Woohoo.

 

[TwoInch]

they absolutely will warranty them. you can buy a brand new socket, turn around in line, and warranty the brand new socket for another brand new socket. they HAVE to give you a replacement, or the closest replacement available if your item is discontinued...

all sears, franchise or full line corporate stores MUST honor the warranty, period. also, in most places, that warranty is legal. they also can not give you a "3 tool per day" warranty rule, or similar.

now, personally i do not believe you should take those sockets in and get new ones. they were abused, and really should not be warrantied, even if they can be... if i break a craftsman tool, ill warranty it.. but if i leave it out in the rain, no way.

my .02

 

[bluechevy94]

Like I said above.Most of the sockets will clean up have very little rust if any on them.The ones that rusted really bad have the chrome peeling on them.Were they peeling before they started rusting? That I don't know.If I do take any in it will be the peeling ones.

 

[TwoInch]

i was just throwin my opinion in on top of the warranty info. others opinions will vary, and many people would warranty every single on of them... so its a personal choice, thats all.

even with peeling chrome, i personally would bother warrantying them, if i had found them/they were super old. if they were new sockets with chrome peeling and imperfections, surely.

 

[Hetman]

Yes, I do care to explain "reality". Sensible reasons for warranty. Abuse, misuse, normal wear and tear, neglect of adequate store conditions etc. are NOT one of them.

 

[beerdog]

In a word, yes, they should and likely will.

My question to you to ponder is for peeling chrome, I'd definately exchange for new if me. Peeling should not happen and makes using it dangerous.

Even good chrome will peel if the underlying metal is induced to start corroding. All it takes is the slightest spot to be exposed to continual moisture. The corrosion will then start seperating the crome in sheets if given enough time. If you are going to return them don't tell them they were left soaking in water under a pile of wood for decades. They might squak if you bring them all in at the same time. But usually you are just dealing with a low level hourly worker who doess not care. Maybe buy a small item at the same time. Personaly, they have never denied me. Even when the tool failed due to clear situation of abuse.

 

[87GN]

Are the tools still functional except for how they look? Personally, I rather have a dirty/rusted,chipped/peeling old Craftsman tool than trade it in for a new POS Craftsman tool. That's why my favorite ratchet I own is a mid 70's RHFT, even though the socket retention ball no longer works.

 

[John316]

Are the tools still functional except for how they look? Personally, I rather have a dirty/rusted,chipped/peeling old Craftsman tool than trade it in for a new POS Craftsman tool. That's why my favorite ratchet I own is a mid 70's RHFT, even though the socket retention ball no longer works.

You can get a rebuild kit for that cheap

 

[Super Sport]

Yes, I do care to explain "reality". Sensible reasons for warranty. Abuse, misuse, normal wear and tear, neglect of adequate store conditions etc. are NOT one of them.

They may not be sensible under your definition of the word, but they are in fact covered under Cman's warranty and are apparently sensible reasons to whomever is in charge of the warranty. If Sears didn't want to warranty tools for dissatisfaction under any conditions they would have changed the warranty by now.

 

[87GN]

You can get a rebuild kit for that cheap

I know- just not from Sears unless you buy it. Went to a store and they only do exchanges and couldn't be bothered with ordering the repair kit. Not one sears, but three different ones. Sears.com chat wanted to sell me one. Called Sears customer assistance, they don't handle tool replacemnts. I need to go to a store for that. Round and round we go. I have a rebuild kit I bought off of ebay, but still haven't fixed the ratchet yet. Maybe today is the day.................

Anyways, I still rather have an old crusty functional Craftsman tool than a new shiney one.

 

[benny42]

Rusty or not, if my grandpa's tools were ever remotely useable, i'd keep them.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I live near the ocean where boat tools rust up in a season or two. I also know from experience that rust is considered neglect and is not covered. No sears tool department manager around here will exchange a rusty tool.

If you get lucky a young person will will be working the tool department when the manager isn't around. They will exchange anything.

Some have reported getting tools exchanged inland where they don't have rusty tools coming in every day for exchange.

Chris

 

[FordExplorer]

They should warranty it fine. If they say it was abuse, then just bring them home and break out the BFH and then take them back and say they're broke